• Geocaches, Cold Snaps, and Contraband in Southend

    8th April 2013 The cold snap shows no sign of retreating, a curious mix of sunshine and wind sharp enough to cut through three layers of clothing. Tempting though it is to get outside, the glow of the wood burner makes staying put far too easy. According to the papers, this has been the coldest… Continue Reading

  • Eggs, Exhausts and Endless Tissues

    1st April 2013 Since returning home, Sue and I have been knocked sideways by chest colds. Between the bitterly cold weather and the daily flurries of snow, neither of us has felt much like venturing out. Charlotte and her crew came over after she’d taken Ellis to lunch at Nan’s. I’d popped in to see… Continue Reading

  • From Sunshine to Snowboots

    26th March 2013 The alarm was dutifully set for 6:45 am, but we managed to beat it by waking at 6:15 am. Clearly, our body clocks were already braced for the joys of travel day. The suitcases had been surrendered to the corridor the previous night and had mysteriously vanished by morning, hopefully into the… Continue Reading

  • Shorts, Seafood and a Stroll Down La Rambla

    23rd March 2013 We indulged in a leisurely breakfast this morning, as Barcelona wasn’t expecting us until after 1 pm. Suitably fortified, we decided on a brisk constitutional around the decks. The sky was blue and cloudless, but a brisk Arctic gale made my decision to wear shorts and a t-shirt look less “Mediterranean chic”… Continue Reading

  • Dolphins, Champagne, and German Scrabble

    22nd March 2013 The clocks went forward again last night, which meant we lost another hour of sleep. Not that it bothered us much, we sailed past Gibraltar and into the Mediterranean at 6 am, but Sue and I snoozed happily through it all and didn’t emerge for breakfast until 9 am. What we did… Continue Reading

  • Whales, Wobbles, and an Irishman Called Trouble

    20th March 2013 We treated ourselves to a lie-in and only surfaced for breakfast at 9 am. Outside, the sea rolled gently beneath a bright blue sky streaked with fluffy white clouds. No white horses today, just a pleasant swell. Sue excitedly spotted her first whale, first the spout, then the creature itself, keeping pace… Continue Reading

  • Madeira, Mountain Baskets, and Musical Mysteries

    19th March 2013 The night brought a choppier sea, though it didn’t disturb our sleep. We awoke refreshed, only to find the deck glistening with rain, or possibly seawater, depending on how optimistic one felt. A quick flick through the cabin TV’s CCTV (front and back views of endless waves, better than The Shipping Forecast,… Continue Reading